CF seeks ways to afford new challenge

Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 4:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 4:51 p.m.

A College of Central Florida student striving to earn a bachelor's degree in one of four specialities in the business and organizational management program will spend $13,559.40 if the tuition was paid in full this year.

On Monday, CF President Jim Henningsen stood with Gov. Rick Scott at Valencia College and accepted the governor's challenge to offer that bachelor's degree program for $10,000.

What about that missing $3,559.40?

On Tuesday, Henningsen said CF is still working on details about how it will defray the difference between the current cost and the newly announced one.

CF's tuition for a Florida resident in 2012-2013 is $105.10 per credit hour for associate degree courses, or the first 60 hours of coursework; and $120.89 for baccalaureate level courses, or the second 60 hours.

The business and organizational management program offers specializations in agribusiness management, management information systems, health care management and public safety administration.

Henningsen said the full cost of tuition does not even pay the total cost of the program. A percentage of that cost is subsidized by the state.

Requirements for students wishing to take advantage of the lower-cost educational program, which would likely not begin until at least fall 2013, are still being developed.

Henningsen said officials are looking at one option requiring students to take 15 hours of advanced placement college courses in high school to enter the program. Henningsen said officials are also looking to create community-sponsored scholarships to help offset costs.

Currently, there are 240 students enrolled in the four specialities. None of the current students can be grandfathered into the program.

“We are also looking to establish other student requirements,” said Henningsen, adding that students may be required to complete the degree in a set time frame. “We can't have a student taking 10 years to complete a degree.”

He added costs rise every year and there “must be student responsibility” to get this type of tuition break. He hopes to roll out the requirements during a spring marketing campaign.

Henningsen said in a press release that “our mission is to provide affordable, high quality programs that prepare our graduates for jobs, and our community needs us more than ever.”

Henningsen said Tuesday only seven of the state's 28 college presidents accepted the challenge to start a pilot program. He said it is important locally because only 17 percent of Marion County residents older than 25 hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

“The state average is 26 percent — and that's below the national average,” he said. Henningsen noted that educating more people is necessary to bring businesses to Florida and Marion County.

Called the “Governor's $10,000 Degree Challenge,” Scott urged state colleges to start pilot programs “in fields that will provide graduates with the best opportunity for employment,” he noted in a Monday press conference.

Henningsen said he was at a college president's meeting when state education officials shared Scott's vision. Scott later attended the meeting and Henningsen told the governor that he was onboard. Scott then invited Henningsen to the Valencia College press conference, he said.

<p>A College of Central Florida student striving to earn a bachelor's degree in one of four specialities in the business and organizational management program will spend $13,559.40 if the tuition was paid in full this year.</p><p>On Monday, CF President Jim Henningsen stood with Gov. Rick Scott at Valencia College and accepted the governor's challenge to offer that bachelor's degree program for $10,000.</p><p>What about that missing $3,559.40?</p><p>On Tuesday, Henningsen said CF is still working on details about how it will defray the difference between the current cost and the newly announced one.</p><p>CF's tuition for a Florida resident in 2012-2013 is $105.10 per credit hour for associate degree courses, or the first 60 hours of coursework; and $120.89 for baccalaureate level courses, or the second 60 hours.</p><p>The business and organizational management program offers specializations in agribusiness management, management information systems, health care management and public safety administration.</p><p>Henningsen said the full cost of tuition does not even pay the total cost of the program. A percentage of that cost is subsidized by the state.</p><p>Requirements for students wishing to take advantage of the lower-cost educational program, which would likely not begin until at least fall 2013, are still being developed.</p><p>Henningsen said officials are looking at one option requiring students to take 15 hours of advanced placement college courses in high school to enter the program. Henningsen said officials are also looking to create community-sponsored scholarships to help offset costs.</p><p>Currently, there are 240 students enrolled in the four specialities. None of the current students can be grandfathered into the program.</p><p>“We are also looking to establish other student requirements,” said Henningsen, adding that students may be required to complete the degree in a set time frame. “We can't have a student taking 10 years to complete a degree.”</p><p>He added costs rise every year and there “must be student responsibility” to get this type of tuition break. He hopes to roll out the requirements during a spring marketing campaign.</p><p>Henningsen said in a press release that “our mission is to provide affordable, high quality programs that prepare our graduates for jobs, and our community needs us more than ever.”</p><p>Henningsen said Tuesday only seven of the state's 28 college presidents accepted the challenge to start a pilot program. He said it is important locally because only 17 percent of Marion County residents older than 25 hold a bachelor's degree or higher.</p><p>“The state average is 26 percent — and that's below the national average,” he said. Henningsen noted that educating more people is necessary to bring businesses to Florida and Marion County.</p><p>Called the “Governor's $10,000 Degree Challenge,” Scott urged state colleges to start pilot programs “in fields that will provide graduates with the best opportunity for employment,” he noted in a Monday press conference.</p><p>Henningsen said he was at a college president's meeting when state education officials shared Scott's vision. Scott later attended the meeting and Henningsen told the governor that he was onboard. Scott then invited Henningsen to the Valencia College press conference, he said.</p>